Launch Rural Nevada Hosts Event
Launch Rural Nevada is on this year for an exciting season of innovative new start-up business pitches, access to capital for new rural businesses, and ideas for those who want to learn or prepare to start their own businesses. The Nevada Governeners Office of Economic Development sponsored this year’s Launch Rural Nevada event. The event is focused on the “Flight Direction and Control” portion of entrepreneurship, the early stages, and getting the businesses focused on the goals they will settle into.
Created during the 2011 session of the Nevada Legislature, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is the result of a collaborative effort between the Nevada Legislature and the Governor’s Office to restructure economic development in the state. GOED’s role is to promote a robust, diversified, and prosperous economy in Nevada, stimulate business expansion and retention, encourage entrepreneurial enterprise, attract new businesses and facilitate community development.
For people with business ideas who need money or assistance, the Launch Nevada Rural pitch, education, and networking event is just enough of a boost to get many small businesses off the ground.
Contestants are provided with training, information, and mentorship leading up to the event in preparation for presenting pitches to potential investors, business partners, and customers. For those not participating in the event, you can observe the process and get a feel for what you might be looking at having to do if you are thinking of starting your own business.
The event hosts Dr. Mariluz Garcia, a northern Nevada local born and raised in Elko. She graduated with three degrees from the University of Reno, Nevada. In 2021, Dr. Garcia was granted 4 million dollars from Senate Bill 461 to found the Nevada First-Gen Network to help prospective first-generation college students negatively impacted by the pandemic throughout Nevada. Dr. Garcia has 19 years of experience working with low-income, first-generation students and has served as the Executive Director of the Dean’s Future Scholars program for ten years.
The second speaker is Vanessa Vancour, who will present the importance of digital marketing in small businesses, even in rural areas. Vanessa Vancour is the strategist and founder of Vancourage, a strategic consulting firm for brands and organizations interested in breaking molds and doing things in business updated for this generation.
Aside from its host, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the event also has many local sponsors for the project. NNRDA member, Mt. Wheeler Power, is a sponsor of this year’s Launch Rural Nevada event. Locally they service a large portion of eastern Nevada, providing electrical services.
i-80 Gold Corp. is another sponsor and is a well-financed, Nevada-focused mining company to achieve mid-tier gold producer status through the development of multiple deposits within the Company’s advanced-stage property portfolio anticipated to be processed at the centrally located Lone Tree processing facility and autoclave.
Many feel they have benefited from these events, whether someone is planning their own business start-up or already has one and needs backing to get off the ground.
Chris Lauborough states,” I participated in the initial LRN workshop in November 2019. Although I didn’t participate in the pitch competition, I received phenomenal support from the LRN team and can undoubtedly contribute a portion of my success to their help. Since that time, I have left my day job and established a company that has allowed me to take a hobby and turn it into a robust and profitable business.”
The event takes place on November 4th and will be held in a hybrid format with local, in-person viewing sites and online options.
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